noun

1. Obsolete a rolling down or falling
2. a passing down from stage to stage
3. the passing (of property, rights, authority, etc.) from one person to another
4. a delegating (of duties) to a substitute or subordinate
5. a delegating (of power or authority) by a central government to local governing units
6. Biol. evolution of structures toward greater simplicity or to the point of disappearance; degeneration

Etymology: ML devolutio, a rolling back < L devolutus, pp. of devolvere: see devolve